Compare the2026 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2025 Lexus RX

The Highlander Hybrid has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The RX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Highlander Hybrid. But it costs extra on the RX.

Both the Highlander Hybrid and the RX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is safer than the Lexus RX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is safer than the Lexus RX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander Hybrid for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RX (2/25000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander Hybrid’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander Hybrid gets better mileage than the RX running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RX 350 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander Hybrid has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX 450+’s standard fuel tank (17.1 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Highlander Hybrid stops much shorter than the RX:

The Highlander Hybrid’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the RX’s (54.7% to 45.3%). This gives the Highlander Hybrid more stable handling and braking.

The Highlander Hybrid Platinum handles at .78 G’s, while the RX 350 AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The front grille of the Highlander Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Highlander Hybrid offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the RX can only carry 5.

The Highlander Hybrid has .1 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom, 1 inch more rear hip room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the RX.

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area provides more volume than the RX.

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the RX’s in almost every dimension:

The Highlander Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds).

Consumer Reports rated the Highlander Hybrid’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the RX’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Highlander Hybrid to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the RX.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid retains 61.9% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 56.19% to 61.13% resale value of the 2025 Lexus RX after five years, which can save the Toyota’s owner up to $13569.69763 in depreciation.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Highlander Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.